Ornamental necktie clasp



Dec. 11, 1951 l. F. CHICHESTER 2,578,507

ORNAMENTAL NECKTIE CLASP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 27. 1949 IN VEN TOR. #Pw/V6` www/5 rf R, Gr-17 BY M? w@ A 770/9/1/5 VS Dec. 11, 1951 l. F. cHlcHl-:STER

ORNAMENTAL NECKTIE CLASP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 27. 1949 ciijfissi ORNAMENTAL NECKTIE CLASP Irving F. Chichester, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Co. Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,191

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in jewelry and more particularly has to do with a novel construction of necktie clasp.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved necktie clasp having a front portionl to t over the front of a necktie and adapted to removably hold inital letters on other character elements so that the same will be displayed to present with the front portion or bar an attractive ornamental appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved necktie clasp of simple, inexpensive construction having a character holder front portion or bar of the kind referred to that Will enable the ready selective association and` clamping member whereby the tubular frontportion of the clasp is closed at one end and reinforced by the connecting arm, and a simple, strong clasp is provided that can be produced at low cost.

Another important novel feature of the invention lies in the particular construction of character elements provided, economically constructed from sheet metal and formed with portions to slidably iit within the tubular front portion of the clasp and so designed as to facilitate the insertion of the same therein and to cooperate therewith to provide a secure mounting of the same on the tubular front portion lof the clasp.

A further important novel features of the invention resides in the provision of simple, eilicient means for locking the character elements Within the tubular front portion of the clasp.

The invention with other objects, novel features and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrange ment of parts comprising the same will be understood from the following detailed description when. considered., in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and illustrating a numberof embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a necktie'clasp constructed in accordance with the present invention; l

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3';

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of the locking member;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of one of the character elements;

Fig. 9 is a detail rear perspective view of one of the character elements;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line Ill- I0 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section of a slightly modified form of the tubular front portion of the clasp and character element;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary transverse section o the modied form of character element illustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of a modied form of the device;

Fig. 14 is a top plan View of illustrated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a Vertical longitudinal section on the line |5-I5 of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows, the character elements being shown in side elevation partially inserted in the tubular front portion of the clasp;

Fig. 16 is a transverse section on the line lS-IE of Fig. 13;

Fig. r1'7 is a detail end elevation of the character element of the construction illustrated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of another modithe construction iied form of the device;

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the construction showninFig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 18 without the character elements,

Vand with the closure cap removed from the end of the tubular frontportion;

Fig. 22 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22e-22 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 23 is a transverse section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 24 and Fig. 25 are respectively a detail front elevation and top plan view of one of the character elements;

Fig. 26 is a front elevation of a further modiecl form of the device;

Fig. 2'7 a top plan1 viewof .the construction illustrated Vini Fig. 126, with the. end closure cap removed;

Fig. 28 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 28--28 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 29 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 29-29 of Fig. zwwithzthezend closure cap removed;

Fig. 30 is a transverse section onfltheline 30-30 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 31 is a detail front elevation of one of the character elements ofthe constructionzshown in Fig. 26;

Fig. 32 is a transverse "section on.theline 2-5131 0i-:H: 3l;

.-iEigfgris.gafdetail longitudinal-.section :ofvfthe end closure cap;

While .,-a.;n1imb er lof.." embodin'ients of the linyntiQnf-.areillustrated ingfthedrawings, ,it :will be understood that minor changesand .modific- .'.cations..fmay be macleffin the particular constructions shown and the invention may be embodied rin .still other :forms as .willappeal .to -those skilled :1n the amanda-falling within the,.scope A;'..0.f.;the.appended .claims @without .departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

.g-Reerring 'to a detailed description of `the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in:y Figs. '.1 to A-10.,:.the. tie, :clasp-.shown :comprises a relatively long slender tubularpfront `portion .gorv bar I .andzarear springfnressed. clamping member 2 pivotally connected-r-intermediate its endsrto one end vof angarmv which `has -at its 5 1-,

other end a return bend 4 terminatingin a :straight :-part.;fthat is rigidly secured to one end-ofthe Vtubular-firont portion orinar-I. VrThe tubular front :portion I .;is rectangular shaped .i!1;.C1T.0SS .Sectionfandfof relatively; small cross lsec- -tional;size,.zthe same .having top and bottom walls 6, 'I and side Walls 8, 9. Thestraight .terminal part .5.-.-.offthe arm Siviseofa shapeA in cross section corresponding to that of theptubularyfront `portion-.or-foa-r I ;and.;of iafcross .sectionalfsize to t within an end portion thereof, and-isrsol- V:tiered-:into fthe..=same. The terminal part '5 of Athearrn 3 closes `the #front tubular porton I .at.;one .end vand reinforces thesamefsaid ,arm .13 .rior-ming eiect a :continuationaof :the ntubular front portionlor bar --I,the particularar- .rangement resulting ina simple, light, serviceable clasp structure.

s-lheftnbularefrontgportion .forgbar I-jfisgprovided rwith .-,a longitudinal slot |50 in Vthe `top` wall .thereof adjacent the front side wall 3, the slot .in the `.top ...wall extending rrom .the `A`free .gend ,of the tubular front portiongl toga p,oint.a.short .distance ,fromlthe r,other end .thereo a relatively short end portion II of the top wall B being yleft completely `bridgingthe slide walls and Q lof. the .tubular .y portion. The .tubular ,front portion or bar I is made "from relatively 'thin rec- (tangular metal tubing, the longitudinal slot I9 being VVnriilledin the top wall 6.

'-Suppo'rted/ onthe tubular 'front portion or bar I @are a'plurality' ofV character velements -ormembers I2. In the present:instancefthererarethree in- --di'vidiial character elements and the-se. are shown as initia1-31`etters 'Sflt` H. -The.characterelements "ingthe longitudinal slot IIJ. VThe lower or base portion .I3 of each of the -character elements has a lug I5 at each end thereof projecting laterally and rearwardly therefrom at substantially a right rangle thereto, said lugs at the juncture of the same with the lower portion or base being slightly rounded or .curved .as shown. The lugs I5 are rectangular shaped and of a size to slidably t Y-within=theftubular front portion or bar I and whenengaged-,therewith act to rmly hold the character elements I2 on the tubular front portioniI--in upright position relatively thereto.

In assembling the character elements I2 on the .itllbular'ffrontportion1I,the retaining lugs I5 of the character-felementsgcan gbefeasily inserted within theatubularfreutl p oltionfby `holding the Ezclriaracter elementA at afslightVv angle ,tothe tubular front vportion and-inserting `.the outer end of one .o the retaining-lugs I 5 into the'open end thereof, then turningthecharacter element into longitu- ,dinal-l; alignment :,.withthe tubular front portion andz pushing it ,-intogthe-same.

Means isp-provided for-,closing ftheopen end of rthe-tubular :front l.portion .I. andlocking the char- .actereelemenpts or members .on the ftubular front portion .This comprisesafU-shaped spring clip lIii, adapted .to twithin thefopen endof the tubular vfrontrportion with its` ,legj Aportions I 'I, I 3 .tting'ffgainst the side .walls 8,` and Sthereof. The t-leg,portion yIB s .provided With.a detent I9 and the--rear-.wall{Bfof =.the tubular,,front-portion or bar I is provided withan--aperture .tocooperate with the ,detent. .'lhe leg; portions .of .the clip Iynormally are fspaced. A.from f eachother a distance. slightly .greater :than the. distance between the side Wallsvof the..tubular front-portion so that .when -the 4le-g .portionsof Y.the clip are Vpressed '.tcwardeach other, `,and the clip is fully inserted .into the o pen end of thetubularfront portion, the ,detent I9 will snap ,into lockingengagement with -ztheffaperturefZ Whenin this vnosition, .the end portion 2 I-of -theclp ,extendsflush .with .the ,adj aeent-end walls ofthe.tubular-front.portion .The :inneren-ds of the legs ofthe .clip 6.abut against the outermost lug I5 on the outermostof they initial-letters I2, the initial letters .being thus se- -curel-yheld withinY .the tubulariront portion, the .innermost -of the. initialy letters.. abutting xagainst `the outer-end ofthe :straight portion 5 .of the armi .at the other end'of the tubulariront portion.

To remove lthe characterzelementsIZ, it is `only .necessary to ,applysuilicient orcelongitudinally `v` af; tl'ie tubular `.front portontofthe .character elements to overcome the .tension of thespringlegs .or the clip v.I 6. Whenthis .is...done, .thedetent I9 .will be disengaged fromthefaperturel andthe fcli-p-.orcedout of the openendpf thetubular frontr portion,

.The modiediorm oftubular front. portionand character elements,.,shown,in,Figs. l1 v:and .12, is .thesame as. thaty illustrated in Fig. `5,.except that Ythe longitudinal slot inthe .top wall `of ,the tu.- jbularront portion Yorfloar ignot, locetedldirectly ...adioining;the;iront.Sdewall buttslhtlyjllwardl'y .thereof and Ythe haracterelements .are eacnprowall at opposite sides of the longitudinal slot therein. In Figs. 11 and 12, 22 designates the top wall of the tubular front portion and 23, 24 designate, respectively, the side walls thereof. 25 is the character elements each provided with a groove 26 in each side face of its lower portion 21. 28 designates the retaining lug at one end of the vlower portion 2l.

The particular construction hereinbefore described provides a simple, eiiicient serviceable clasp structure having a tubular front portion adapted to removably hold character elements so that the same will be displayed to present with the tubular front portion or bar an attractive ornamental appearance. The character elements or members are economically constructed of sheet metal, the retaining lugs thereof being so designed as to be readily inserted within the tubular front portion or bar and serving to firmly retain the character elements in upright position therein. The means for locking the character elements on the tubular front portion or bar and closing the open end of the same is of simple, efficient construction and easily operated.

In Figs. 13 to 17 is illustrated a modified form of the device in which the rear member of the clasp is in the form of a spring clip o1' arm instead of a lever-type clamping member, and also instead of a plurality of individual character elements, a plurality of character elements are mounted on a common base portion as a single unit. The construction shown comprises a tubular front portion or bar 29, which, in this instance, is square shaped in cross section. The rear spring clamping member designated 39 is connected at one end to an arm 3| which, at its other end, has the return bend 32 that has a straight terminal end portion 33 soldered into one end portion of the tubular Vfront portion or bar 29.

34 designates the longitudinal slot in the top wall 35 of the tubular front portion, said slot extending from the free open end of the tubular front portion 29 to a point near the other end thereof, the slot, in this instance, being shown locatedcentrally of the sides of the top wall.

36 designates the characterelements fixed on an elongated lower portion or strip 31, the character elements or members being suitably secured at their lower ends, as by welding or soldering, to the top of the holder strip 31, said holder strip being rectangular .shaped in cross section to slidably fit within the front portion 29. The strip 3l supporting the character elements is locked in position within the tubular front portion by a spring collar 38 detachably fitting on the free end portion of the tubular front portion.

The modied construction illustrated in Figs. 18 to 25 has a tubular 4front portion or bar 39 that is round in cross section and the individual character elements or members 40 each have a lower elongated supporting portion or strip 4| that is round in. cross section and of a `size to slidably t therein. The rear clasp member 42 in the form of a spring arm or clip is securedat its inner end to an arm 43 having the return bend 44 terminating in a straight part 44a the latter being soldered into one end portion of the tubular front portion or bar 39, reinforcing and closing this end thereof, the end of the tubular portion being further reinforced by a collar 45 suitably secured thereon. The free open end of the tubular front portion is closed and the character elements 40 held within the same by a cap member 45, this cap being interiorly threaded to engageV an exteriorly threaded end portion 39a of the tubular front portion or bar.

Themodied form of the device illustrated in Figs. 26 to 33 is the same as that shown in Figs. 18 to 25 except that, instead of the tubular front portion or bar being connected with the rear clamping member by a separate arm having a forwardly extending return bend, the tubular front portion or bar is itself provided with a rearwardly extending return bend that is connected directly with the rear clamping member of the clasp. In these views, 41 designates the tubular front portion or bar having at one end a rearwardly extending return hend 43 that has a straight part 49 into which the inner end portion of the clip member 50 is soldered. 5I designates the longitudinal slot in the upper side of the tubular front portion. 52 are the individual character elements or members, each having an elongated base portion or supporting strip 53 circular in cross section to slidably t within the front tubular portion or bar.

V.A cap 54 detachably tting over the free end portion of the tubular front portion o1' bar 41 closes the same and holds the character elements 52 therein. In this instance, the closure cap 54 is not threaded but is held on the end portion of the tubular front portion or bar by frictional engagement therewith, the slotted free end portion of the tubular front portion or bar being slightly flared outwardly at 55 as shown in Fig. 29, this outwardly flared end portion 55 being contracted when the closure cap is slipped there- This application contains claims generic to subject matter disclosed in -copending applications Serial Nos. '73,192 and 73,193. The present application, Serial No. 73,191 differs principally from the other cases referred to by the particular means for locking the character elements within 4the tubular front portion of the clasp.

What I claim is:

1. A necktie clasp including an elongated tubular front portion to t over the front of a necktie, said tubular front portion being made from relatively thin metal tubing, a rear clamping member, an arm to one end of which the clamping member is connected having a return bend at its other end terminating in a straight part fitting within and secured to one end portion of the tubular front portion, said straight part closing one end of the tubular front portion and reinforcing the same, said tubular front portion being provided in its top wall with a longitudinal slot extending from its free end, a character element having a lower portion to slidably iit within the tubular front portion adapted to be inserted therein at the free end portion thereof and to hold the character element thereon with its character standing out from the top wall thereof, and means for locking the character element in position on the tubular front portion.

2. A necktie clasp including an elongated tubular front portion to t over the front of a necktie, a rear clamping member connected with the tubular front portion, said tubular front portion being provided in its top wall with a longitudinal slot extending to one end thereof, a plurality of individual character elements of general plate-like form and of small thickness each having an elongated lower base portion provided at each end with a laterally projecting lug extension of narrow cross section to slidably lit within the tubular front portion and adapted to be inserted therein at said end thereof and to hold the character elementslthereoniwlth their Ycharacters standing out from the topwall thereof.

3. A necktie clasp includingan elongated tubu- ,lair front portion to t overthe front of fa-necktie, l@arear clamping member connectedwith the tubular front portionf'said tubular front :portion lbeing rectangular shaped in cross-sectionand :having a longitudinal slot in its top Wall extend- -ing to one end thereof, 'a plurality of individual character elements of .general plate-like lform 'and of small thickness each having an elongated lower base portion provided tat each end with la laterally projecting substantially rectangular :shaped lug extension of narrow cross section to f'slida'bly nt Within the tubular front portion adapted .tofbe inserted therein at said end thereof fandlto hold the character element thereon With Yits character'standing out yfrom the top Wall thereof.

4. A necktiecla'sp including an elongated tubuf ilar front portion to vfit over the front 'of 1a'neclztie, a rear clamping lmember connected to'tlie ltubular front portion, said tubular front portion lbeing rectangular shaped in cross section, 'closed v'at one end and y'having a longitudinal slot in the i vtop Wall thereof extendingto its open Aend, 'a

`character element of lgeneral plate-like formh'av- `ing a part at the lower end thereof to -slidably t within the tubular front portion adaptedto Vbe inserted there'in'from the openendlthereof and to hold the character element Ythereon with its 'characterstanding vout from the top wall thereof, 'anda U-shapedis'pring llocking member `adapted to detachably t within the open end of the tubular front 4portion with its opposite leg vportions tting against the front and rear side Walls thereof to lock the character element `o'n the tubular front portion.

--5. Anecktie clasp includingan elongated tubu- -larfront portion to nt over therfront 'or a necktie, a rear clamping member connected tolthe tubular front portion, said tubiilarifr'ont-portion vbeing rectangular lshaped in-cross`section, closed at Yone end and having a longitudinal'slot in the topvvallthereof extending 'toits openfendfafcharacter element offgeneral 'plate-like form'having-"a part lat the lower end thereof to "slidablyf-'t within the tubular iront portion v'adapted -t`o be inserted therein from the open end thereof 'and to hold the character element thereon Withrits lcharacter standing'fout from the top Wall thereof,

rss

lar front Aportion @vvith its vopposite leg portions Vtting Tagainst `the lliront "and 'rear vside Walls thereof tof-lock the character element on th'e tu- :'bular iront portion, and means on one leg portion of the locking fm'ember and on one side Wall of 'the tubular lfrontp'ortion adapted to interlock one With the other to retain the U-sh'aped-lock- -ing lmember 'in locking position on vthe tubular front portion.

n6. A necktie'clasp including'an elongated tubu- :lar front'portion to .iitoverthe front of'a neck'- lti'e, a rear clamping m'el'nbe'r connected to the tubular front iportion, vsaid Itubular frontportion being rectangular shaped incross section, closed atoneend 'and having a longitudinalslot inthe v.top Wall thereof extending to its -open end, 'a

character 'element offg'eneral plate-likeform hav- Ying Yaip'art 'at 'the lower end thereof to slidably -fltwithin thettubular 'front portion adapted to'b'e `inserted therein `from Vthe open end thereofand 'to hold the lcharacter element thereon with its Vcharacter standing out fromthe top Wall thereof,

REFERENCES CITED The following rfrences are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l917,604 Herzog` Apr. 6, 1909 1,271,804 Thunell July 9, 1918 1,890,320 Field Dec. 6, 1932 "1,912,852 Lobel June 6, 1937 1,981,574 `Stensgaard Nov-20, 1934 2,008,624 lMX' July 16, 1935 2,037,670 Wilson 'Apn 14, 1936 r2,040,012 Mix May 5, 1936 2,178,055 -Stupell Oct. 31, 1939 

